What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Mansfield
People
Population	7,896Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	Mansfield
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.